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This local leader of the town of Black River – a community described as “the epicenter” for the devastating storm – has shared the monstrous flooding and extensive devastation wrought by the catastrophe.

Speaking on the traumatic ordeal, Richard Solomon recalled riding out the Category 5 hurricane at an emergency operating centre.

“Our community of this area is in ruins,” he said. “The destruction is so catastrophic that the national leader classified this area as ground zero.”

Five individuals from the town are reported to have died, but the mayor noted hearing reports of other deaths that remain unconfirmed due to connectivity and travel challenges.

“The hurricane arrived around eight in the morning and lasted for around nine hours, during which we were pounded with strong gusts and torrential rainfall,” he explained.

“We experienced up to 4.8 metres of water at the emergency operating centre. That was a bit scary for us, and we were hoping that it would not rise any further, because we were on the upper level, and I tell you, when we saw the water climbing, it was a terrifying experience for us.”

Solomon stated that the town, situated in the severely affected south-western parish of the area, is without running water and power, and the majority of buildings have lost their roofs. An authority previously characterized the town as under water, with more than half a million residents without power. A landslide has blocked the primary routes of a nearby area, where roadways have been reduced to muddy tracks. Residents are now sweeping water from their homes and attempting to salvage their belongings.

Rescue efforts and evaluations have proven extremely difficult because every one of the town’s transport and essential facilities such as fire, law enforcement, hospitals and grocery stores were “severely damaged,” notes the mayor.

The mayor is now concentrating on trying to help the most vulnerable, while also dealing with the individual toll of the disaster.

“The mayor's car was completely covered by water. The roofing was lost, so I do understand the pain that persons are experiencing, but what is a key focus for me now is to concentrate on getting assistance for the most vulnerable at this time,” he says.

The mayor believes that it will take millions of Jamaican dollars to rebuild the community after the hurricane's annihilation. For now, he states, the priority is clearing blocked routes, which have isolated the town.

“We are now trying to clear the major thoroughfares and secondary routes here so that we can get relief supplies in. The majority of our stores, if not all, were severely affected so they won’t be able to provide supplies to persons who are in need at this moment,” he adds.

The prime minister has seen the damage personally, with an aerial tour of the region showing 80 to 90% of buildings in the area had been lost.

“This will be a enormous task to restore Black River. But while it is damaged, we can envision a future of it rising more resilient and improved,” he informed reporters.

“It will be accomplished. So keep the positive outlook, remain hopeful, and we will get through this, and we will reconstruct stronger,” he affirmed.